Arlene Ambach passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.
Arlene was born Oct. 23, 1933, in Lewiston, to C.O. and Edith Gaiser Kissinger. She grew up in Sweetwater. She attended grade school in Lewiston and Lapwai and graduated from Lapwai High School. While attending Lewiston Business College, she worked for Lewiston Typewriter Repair and John Bone Real Estate. Arlene worked for American Insurance Agency from 1955 to 1985. At that time, she joined her husband, Gene, in the management of their business, G & A Wheel and Frame.
An early marriage to Lee Davis ended in divorce. She married Eugene LeFebre in 1956. In 1959, they opened G & A Wheel & Frame and operated that until his death in 1985. Arlene continued to manage the shop until retiring in 1998, when it was sold to Wayne Stoddard. In 1986, she married Glen Ambach, and he passed away in 2004.
How do you describe Arlene? She was generous, kind, fun loving, giving of her time and always got the job done. You couldn’t miss her big smile, laugh and great sense of humor. She seemed to know everyone in Nez Perce County or as she would say, “I’m related to most of them.”
She had a happy childhood growing up in Sweetwater, but there was work, too, with helping her mother with the bee hives, canning and pickling, raising and selling chickens for their own use and re-sale. She helped her dad out at his blacksmith shop in Lapwai, or may have been in the way some of the time in her younger years, but he liked having her around him. She was very blonde when born and her dad nicknamed her “Swede,” and always called her by that name. Arlene and her dad had lots of adventures hunting and fishing in the area. She had some pretty good stories to tell about that.
Arlene and her husband, Gene, along with a group of other antique car enthusiasts, formed Lewiston-Clarkston Crankers Club, of which they were charter members in 1959. She was the first woman president in 2014 and 2015. They loved this group and had many, many good times. In drives around the area, Arlene would always point out various farms where they had found car parts or antique cars the group had bought or tried to buy. Until 2014 she was one of the organizers of their big Fourth of July Tour that they had every three years.
When Arlene and Glen married they continued to enjoy old car tours, particularly the Montana Mom and Pop Tour in October, as well as other club activities. She always looked forward to the day trips hunting with Glen in the Helmer, Idaho, area, and going to hunting camp with her cousins and friends. Lots of good memories from camp and sitting around the campfire, having a few toddies and telling stories and singing the old songs.
Betty Gillespie and Arlene have been lifelong friends since their early days at American Insurance. There isn’t enough space to tell of the many things they shared, the fun they had as well as supporting each other in the challenges of life.
After they lost their husbands six weeks apart, she joined her friend, Jackie, spending the summer at Three Rivers Resort from 2005 to 2014. They enjoyed the time spent there driving the area and seeing the wildlife, enjoying time around the campfire with friends and watching the deer that ventured into the campground along with a few clamdiggers. Jackie joined her in going on the Mom and Pop Tours in Montana — you just couldn’t miss this great outing and people.
They went on two cruises to Alaska and traveled with Rich and Betty Gillespie to Hawaii, Sedona, Ariz., Lake Tahoe and a cruise along the New England states from Boston to Nova Scotia. They enjoyed the frequent short road trips to the small towns in our area. They went on gambling trips to Laughlin, Nev., to try their luck. Anyone who knew Arlene knew she liked to spend a few coins in the slots and test her luck, and she usually ended up with some of the casino’s cash.
Most of all, she enjoyed the times just spent hanging out with her family and friends, the big holiday and birthday dinners, and fish fries, usually at Irma’s, Cally’s or Larry’s. There were always a couple trips a year to visit stepchildren, Renee, Shelley and Mike in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area, and the plus was being with the grandkids.
Arlene is survived by her cousins and the families of Cally Meyer and Larry Alfrey, who only knew her as aunt Todee; stepdaughters Renee (Blaine) Stephenson, Shelley (Dave) Dunlap and stepson Mike Ambach. Other surviving cousins and families are Carol Coleman, Frances Gaiser, Marvalee Peterschick, Barbara Carr, Ilene McQuen, Don Kissinger, Betty Lou Britton, Rosemary Kissinger, Marjorie Kissinger, Merle Thiessen, Bob Thiessen and Gene Thiessen. Surviving grandchildren are Arlaina Stephenson, Noah Dunlap, Haley Dunlap, Kyle Ambach, Josh Ambach and Jake Ambach. She is also survived by her very good friends, Jackie Peterson, Rich and Betty Gillespie, and Harvey and Ann Dale.
The family also wants to thank Care Connection and particularly Trina and Morgan helping on Thursdays with household duties after her stroke in 2015.
She was preceded in death by her parents, C.O. and Edith Kissinger; husbands Gene LeFebre and Glen Ambach; stepson Dan LeFebre; and stepdaughter Kay LeFebre.
Arlene says to all of you, “Thanks for being part of my life.”
There will be a private family graveside service. There will be a memorial luncheon at noon Tuesday at the Lewiston Eagles. Donations may be made to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Center, P.O. Box 1100, Boise, ID 83701; or the charity of your choice.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Tuesday, April 23, 12:00 PM
- Location
-
Fraternal Order of Eagles
1304 Main Street
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
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Condolences
Bob and Brenda Miller
We remember the first time that we met Arlene at the Hell's Canyon Boat Club. She made us feel so welcome and comfortable right away. Arlene was a true friend and someone who was always a pleasure to have around.
Monday, April 22, 2019 7:14 PM
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